Lubricator.



J. F. mmmuog.

meme/non.

v APPLICATION FILED 056.21, 3917. 1,283,841. I I Paten'tedNov. 5,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- J. F. MACINDOE' v LUBRICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.21 1917- 1 83841 Patented NOV. 5, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

mlvw

UNITED STATES PATENT ornrcn.

JOHN FRANKLIN MACINDOE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNUR TO FRANKLIN BRASS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, (3F PHILADELPHIA, PENNT-SYL VANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

L'UBRIGATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN FRANKLIN Maclnnon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lubricators, f which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to grease cups or lubriciitors ot the type from which the lubricant is automatically ejected by means of pressure applied thereto and which are particularly applicablefor use on the bearings of automobiles.

The present ineilicient method of employing handcompression grease cups on the outside bcariiigs of automobiles is detrimentail to the car and a source of annoyance to "the perator and results in more quickly worn bearings, undue friction and by reason of the operator neglecting to properly lubricate the various bearings on account of the mud. incrustsd threads thereon and because of the manual labor required to deliver the contents of the cup, serious injury to the mechanical operation of the car is sustained Q as well as an increased cost of maintenance.

The objects of my invention are to elimihate, or reduce to a great extent. the injuries or losses due to the neglect to properly lubricate bearings by the hand method in vogue and to provide theoperator with a device that-will deliver the entire contents of the cup with but one, adjustment, namely, adjusting the cap or cover in operative posi tion which will cause the lubricant to be delivered as required until the cup is emptied by reason of sullicient spring :essure thereon; also to deliver a. constant and uniform flow ormovement of the lubricant to the hearing. The cup will not flood at the beginning of the stroke because of the unique and novel control means attached to the plunger and which operates in the shank of the. device. These and other ob ects I attain in the manner hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of my device illustrating the cap or cover in position .to be secured and fastened in place; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the spring actuated piston or plunger;

Fig. 3 is a plan view-oi the bottom of the cup, illustrating the keeper or holder pins thereon;

Fig. i is a, vertical sectional view of inv device illustrating the cap or cover adjusted andsecurcd in operative position;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the cap or cover showing an oilset and seat to secur same in operative position on the cup;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the usual type of grease cup, before ,-on1pre: men, with my spring actuated piston or plunger in position;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the usual type of grease cup. after compression,

vwith my spring actuated piston or lunger in position;

Fig. 8 is a detailed view of a flat sided screw used in i creasing the flow of the lubricant;

Fig. 9 a vertical sectional view of my control valve.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

Referring to the drawings iii detail the letter a designates the body or barrel of my grease cup, nominally of such size and dimensions as are used for automobile lubrh eating purposes, the interior portion b thereof comprising a receptacle for the lubricant, Said body av terminates in a shank b in which is formed the tapering valve-coir trolled outlet passage is of the cup, having recesses or slots 1) to engage pins 0 which are formed on and integral with the base of said body or barrel (L of the cup.

A cap or cover 9 is provided to fit slid ingly over the barrel (2 and has a suitable opening to permit of the stem 0 passing tlierethrough; as illustrated.

of the stem i. A washer g is provided as shown to firmly hold the parts in alinement. The control valve stem 2' terminates in a cylindrical member 0, which member 0 has the vertical port In, communicating with the horizontal port m. The vertical port m terminating in the threaded portion Z, is regulated by means of the fiat sided screw 42, more particularly illustrated in Fig; 8.

The cap or cover 9 is slid over the barrel a until it reaches the pins 0 which are cast, or formed, integral with the base of said barrel (1. Said cap is then turned until the slots 19 register with the pins 0' the cap is then pressed downwardly until the pin 0 reaches the upper edge of the slot 1?; the cap is then again turned until the said pin 0 pockets at the extreme end of the slot 19, locking the cap or cover 9 firmly and securely in place. The cap or cover 9 is provided with ,a suitable compression spring h, of sufiicient ex ansive stren th to clear the cup of the In ricant, Whic actuates the plunger f and furnishes tension to hold said cover more securely in engagement with the pins 0.

The shank b is formed with the tapered outlet which runs through its entire length, gradually increasing in diameter from the upper to the lower extremity thereof, providing a gradually increasing area for the flow of the lubricant after the control valve has descended approximately one-fourth the length of its stro e, the area increasing in proportion to the'weakening of one spring h insuring a uniform flow of lubricant from the outlet of the cup. The shank 71 is exteriorly threaded at its lower extremity.

There is thus obtained a constant and uniform flow or movement of lubricant to the bearing controlled, by the valve which for the distance or length of its plug or member 0 controls the excess pressure part of the stroke, and after this part of the stroke is complete the upper edge of the member 0 begins to descend into the tapered part of the shank and from this point, approximately, until the stroke is complete and the cup empty, the outlet area will be gradually increased as the spring weakens by the continued increase in the length of the stroke.

The operation of the device is as follows: The barrel a is filled with lubricant; the

. cap or cover 1 containing the plunger f;

which at this timc is at its extreme down stroke or on a level with the outlet or lower partof the cover 7 and thersprin h is expanded to full stroke length, is sli over the upper or open. end of" the barrel (1 which causes the plunger f to enter the interior of the barrel a and in contact with the lubricant. .As the cover (7 is forced downwardly, the plunger f is forced upwardly compressing the spring h. The cover 1 is then forced downwardly until its lower edge contacts with the pins 0. It is then forced downwardly until the slots pins 0 and then turne until said pocket in the offset portion of the s ots p,

register with the ins o which slots are preferably round. The cap or cover will then be in its locked osition, the piston in its u permost positlon, the spring compressed, t 1e control valve in position and the cup is ready to deliver the lubricant in the manner claimed. The expansion of the spring h gradually displaces the lubricant in such amount 'as is regulated by the operation of the control valve within the shank, being gradually ta ered, the smaller end next to the grease an the larger or wider part at the outlet. \Vhen the ball shaped indicator d rests on the cover 9 it is an indication that the stroke of the plunger f has been completed and that the cup is em ty. v i

he function of the control valve is as small screw placed through the shank outlet, and this screw requires constant human attendance if a uniform lubricant delivery is maintained. The apparent'impracticm bility of'this method is obvious when the operators attention is required 'on a' number ofcups; hence an unusual waste of 111 bricant and spasmodic up lications thereof,

resulting in a constantly uctuatmgof friction, lower at times when flooded and higher when the operator is delayed or neglects to\ release the thumb screw; thus the-bearing is deprived of the necessary amount of lubricant and increased friction develo s. i

To increase the flow of the lubricant, if desired, the flat sided screw n is l osericd which .permits the lubricant to flow est the flat side thereof and out between the head of the screw and the bottom of the control valve 0.

The spring it exerts an upward iorce as well as a downward one and this tends to- 1 hold the cover from disengagement-fromthe body of the 'cup'.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have-illustrated my I control valve in connection with the usual of thumb screw lubricator.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is i 1. The combination of a lubricatingcup @Y e I Elaving thus described my invention what having a spring actuated plunger, a valve stem operatively secured thereto, a cylindrical plug member secured'to the lower extremity of said stem and adapted to fit snugly Within the opening of the shank, a

gradually increasing area for the flow of the lubricant, after the plug member has descended substantially its own length within said shank, in proportion to the weakening of the pressure means.

2. The combination of a lubricating cup having a spring actuated plunger, a valve stem operatively secured thereto terminating in a cylindrical plug member adapted to fit snugly Within the opening of the shank, a shank having a continuously tapering outlet the taper thereof extending throughout the entire length of said shank gradually increasing in, diameter from the upper to the lower extremity thereof providing a gradually increasing area for the flow of the lubricant, after the plug member has descended substantially its length within said shank, in proportion to the weakening of the pressure means and means to increase the flow of the lubricant.

3. The combination of a lubricating cup having a spring actuated plunger, a valve stem operatively secured thereto terminat ing in a cylindrical plug member adapted to fit snugly within the opening of the shank, a shank having a continuously tapering outlet the taper thereof extending throughout the entire length of said shank and gradually increasing. in diameter from the upper to the lower extremity thereof providing a gradually increasing area for the flow of the lubricant, after the plug member has descended substantially its length within said shank, in proportion to the weakening of the pressure means, the len th of said plug member being; proportioned so that until it has entirely entered within the shank it equalizes the initial excess pressure or the pressure means.

4. The combination of a lubricating cup having a spring actuated plunger, a valve stem operatively secured thereto, a cylindrical plug member secured to the lower extremity of said stem and adapted to fit snugly within the opening of the shank, s plug member being provided with a horizontal port and a vertical port communicating therewith, a shank having a continu ousl tapering outlet the taper thereof exteu ing throughout the entire length of said shank and gradually increasing in diameter from. the upper to the lower extremity thereof providing a gradually increasing area for the fiow of the lubricant, after the plug member has descended substantially its length within the shank, in proportion. to the weakening of the pressure means, and means to increase the flow of the lubricant.

5. The conibinationof a lubricating cup aid having a spring actuated plunger, a cover slidably mounted on said cup, a stem, pass ing through an opening in said cover, provided with a ball shaped top, acontrol valve stem, means for connecting said stems, said control valve stem terminating in a cylindrical plug niember'adapted to fit snugly in the opening in the shank, a shank having a continuously tapering outlet the taper thereof extending throughout the entire length of' said shank and gradually increasing in diameter from the upper to the lower exreinity thereof providing a gradually increasing area for the Bow of the lubricant, after the plug member has descended substantially its length within the shank, in proportion. to the weakening of the pressure means, and providing means to indicatethe volume of lubricant "within the cup.

Intestimony whereof I am my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN FRANKLIN MAoIQNDGE. Witnesses Wm. H. Lmvnnnon, Mention Van Boosnmm 

